good house(s): the curious office park houses of bloomfield township (Patreon)

It is always interesting to me when a very specific, if not niche, style of house congregates in a certain area. This phenomenon is best traced with modernism because usually there is a distinct architectural history or pedigree involved, even with regards to vernacular housing and planned communities. However, there's not much to find on the internet about the curious phenomenon of late-modern (or rather neo-modern) houses built in the 80s and early 90s that have proliferated in Bloomfield Township, Michigan. The only reason I can think of for the density of such unique projects is the proximity of the Cranbook Institute, responsible for training a number of emerging architects. 

This, of course, warrants a more in-depth study of building records, architectural magazines, etc, a task beyond the scope of the Good House bonus posts.  I wanted to gather up a selection of four houses for you that could be described as late modern or neo-modern, which is to say, most of them kind of look like dentist offices but cool.

The first of these houses is from 1983. It demonstrates a more demure late-modern look favoring architectural concealment and privacy. However the material choice -- vinyl tops a hefty and perplexing soffit, and brown brick -- gives the home a strangely commercial vibe. Indeed, this is the conduit between all four houses: the similarities to contemporaneous vernacular commercial architecture, usually small offices.  

The inside of these houses also tends to fulfill a floor plan oriented toward large bays of windows and a more open, vacuous layout perhaps also borrowing from commercial atria. This house is staged with generic realtor furniture so it's hard to get an idea of what it originally looked like inside and thus it is the least interesting of our prospects. 

Our next house is from 1987 and it looks like it. A mix of late Yamasaki, D- Rudolph, and a law firm. But also charming. One of the things that interests me about these houses is how they are right on the cusp of late modernism (the formal end logic of modernism practiced in the 70s and 80s when modernism was falling apart at the seams formally and ideologically) and neo-modernism (the weird grasping at straws modernism rehash that was done when postmodernism was already in full swing.)

I guess you can call this "cocaine decor" as a genre but it is more postmodern in aesthetic than modern but without any of the postmodern ornament. There's a hint of International Style in the minimalist white wals, a hint of Art Deco but not enough to be 80s Deco (so, in effect 80s does 30s), a hint of generic 80s chintz, a vague sleekness. Hence, neo-modernism, the reduction of modernism to just one of many architectural periods to be cannibalized and eclectic-ized.   

Also this place is home to what might be Michigan's largest sectional. 

The kitchen also exemplifies a certain kind of tasteful tastelessness, if you know what I mean. The thing is, the house is well-designed - the spatial flow is pleasing to the eye and it makes architectural sense. It's just...strange!

The third house (from 1987) is a kind of combination of the previous two and the photography doesn't do it many favors. I actually think this one is the most architecturally interesting because of the sculptural forms and asymmetrical massing. It is still office-park-esque. 

Much like the contemporaneous McMansions of the time, these houses borrowed heavily from signifiers present in architecture outside the home, especially the mall. Hence we see an atrium-style roof and large pillars. One expects Belk to be right in the room next door. 

There's some great detailing in here like the kind of 80s-does-30s constructivist glass etching in the foyer railings. Again, the house is spatially similar to the other three, opening up to a living room with a bay of windows. 

I'm not sure what explains the penchant here for oversized soffits but I assume it's to conceal various services and to provide slight cantilevers for recessed lighting. 

This brings us to our final house (from 1993) and perhaps the most office-like:

It's like if Fallingwater were a law firm from the 80s! It really doesn't look house-like at all. I can't imagine why someone would want to borrow that heavily from commercial architecture. Maybe it's the same reason people put replica arcades in their basements. Architecture is often about communication, communicating an ideal or a message. In this case: the folks who live here are serious business!

Note also the law-firm like atrium. In fact, this literally looks like the atrium in my high school. Again, the plan is open and centered around a sitting area in front of a bay of windows. 

The best part of the whole thing for me, however has to be the 80s deco powder room: 

Or perhaps the 80s deco built in bar: 

The rear exterior only further serves to convince me: the inspiration for these houses all comes from exurban New Jersey or maybe, like, Palo Alto: 

Anyway, I hope these houses inspire you to bust out the pocket calculator and crunch the numbers. 

Bonus McMansion Hell post goes up tomorrow, and don't forget, there's a $10+ stream where we'll be watching old episodes of HGTV tonight at 8 central!